THE Frankston Blues Under 14 Boys will fly to Perth in September to compete at the 2026 Australian Under-14 Club Championships, after finishing the 2026 National Junior Classic Championship undefeated and winning the Eltham Dandenong Basketball Tournament this season.
The Australian Under-14 Club Championships, co-hosted by Basketball Australia and the Willetton Basketball Association, runs from 25 September to 3 October in Willetton, Western Australia.
The Frankston Blues team’s National Junior Classic Championship win, at the State Basketball Centre in Knox, marked its second straight undefeated title after also winning in 2024.
Head coach Lucas Barker, in his first season in charge of the side after an assistant role last year, said the team’s success came down to its balance and its willingness to share the load.
“They’re an all-round team. They’re very good offensively and just as good defensively,” said Barker. “Probably their greatest strength is that they play so well together, and everyone on the team contributes to the success of the team – it’s not just left up to a handful of individuals. All 11 players on the team contribute and do their part. That’s what makes us so successful.
“The boys set the goal for themselves early on in the year to be able to be represented in the best teams in Australia, and it’s been a great result for the boys to be able to get there,” he said.
The Blues will face Victorian rivals Dandenong Rangers, Knox Raiders and Geelong United in Perth, along with sides from other states.
“I feel very confident in our team that if they play to the best of their abilities, they’ll be in the chance for a gold medal or a medal in the tournament,” said Barker.
Getting the full squad to Perth comes with a price tag of almost $50,000, covering flights, accommodation, uniforms, transport, physiotherapy and other expenses for players, coaches and team managers.
Players and families have run basketball clinics for younger children in the area, along with sausage sizzles, raffles and business sponsorships, while the club has also launched an Australian Sports Foundation fundraising campaign.
“We’ve had to do sausage sizzles at Bunnings, and use our stadium… and try to find some sponsors along the way that will help us get to Perth and have everything we need to compete at the championships,” said Barker.
Barker said he believed – though could not confirm – that no team from the Mornington Peninsula area had previously won a national under-14 club championship, meaning the achievement would be a first for the region.
The community can support the Blues’ campaign by donating through the team’s Australian Sports Foundation page at asf.org.au/campaigns/frankston-district-basketball-association/frankston-blues-u14-s-nationals-2026 with all donations over $2 tax deductible.
Local businesses can also get on board through the club’s support packages: Platinum ($5,000 or more) includes logo placement on players’ national championship uniforms and coaches’ and team managers’ polo tops with Gold ($2,500) and Silver ($1,000) also available. All packages include recognition on the Blues’ social media pages
To follow the team’s journey and support their campaign, find them on Instagram at @frankstonblues14.1_nat26
First published in the Frankston Times – 28 July 2026
